FEB 21 -- (Buffalo, NY) John P. Gilbride, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Office of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration ("DEA”) announced the culmination of Operation Shamrock which netted the arrests of 10 defendants on a number of drug charges. DEA coordinated these arrests with 42 other arrests by the Buffalo Police Department in the same area of Buffalo.

DEA Special Agent in Charge John P. Gilbride stated, “This investigation has cleaned up South Buffalo in a concerted effort to rid this community of drugs. These arrests demonstrate our commitment to weeding out those responsible for littering our communities with drugs. The individuals arrested in Operation Shamrock were on a lucky streak that has now come to an end.”

In August of 2007, the DEA Buffalo Task Force Group, along with the Buffalo Police Department and the New York State Police initiated an investigation which targeted the drug trafficking activities of various individuals in Buffalo, NY. This investigation was the result of citizen complaints of organized drug trafficking and gang-related drug trafficking activity specifically in South Buffalo.

With the assistance of federal, state and local law enforcement it was learned that one of the drug trafficking organizations was spear headed by two brothers; Michael Sylvia and Shawn Sylvia who face federal charges for sales of illegal narcotics in addition to the other 8 defendants in this investigation.

This investigation was a diligent effort to rid the streets of the scourge of illegal drugs in an area (South Buffalo) not necessarily known for crime or drug use. It was found that a network of illegal marijuana and controlled substances were being sold throughout the Buffalo area and this effort resulted in the seizure of several ounces of marijuana and cocaine as well as $35,000 cash.

This operation was productive in large part to the great cooperation between the Drug Enforcement Administration, Buffalo Police Department, the New York State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation SWAT Team, Cheektowaga Police Department, Niagara Falls Police Department and the United States Attorney’s Office, Western District of New York.